Monday, September 19, 2016

MOSHI Urban Water Supply and Sewerage (MUWSA) is a
Government agency offering water and sewerage services to the Moshi
Municipality with a population of about 144,000 people. It has started offering
services to those who reside out of the municipality. Like most Urban Water
Authorities (UWSAs) in Tanzania, MUWSA is an outcome of implementation of the
National Water Policy of 1991, which promulgated a flexible, autonomous and
self-financing water supply and sewerage regime. The policy proposed an
appropriate institutional framework that would ensure establishment of decentralized
autonomous entities for the management of water supply and sewerage services in
all urban centres. As a result of the policy, and following a number of studies
on the financing and management of operations and maintenance of urban water
supply and sewerage services in Tanzania, Urban Water Supply Departments
(UWSDs) were established in 19 regional towns, including Moshi. These UWSDs
were formed in 1994, as semiautonomous departments under advisory boards namely
UWSB’s. In 1998 the UWSDs were transformed into UWSAs as autonomous entities
with full operational, managerial and financial powers in accordance with Act
No. 8 of 1997. MUWSA plans to increase water production and subsequent supply
as it eyes to serve more people within and outside the municipality. Ms Joyce
Msiru is the Managing Director of MUWSA who says they have a strategic plan of
five years to envision how MUWSA operations should be structured and resources
allocated to meet the growing desire to improve service delivery in Moshi. Having
been issued with ISO Certificate for delivering quality services to its
customers MUWSA want to be the best water and sewerage utility in Tanzania,
they now look at the entire scope of MUWSA in formulating a unified mission for
improving service delivery. MUWSA undertake to make provision of adequate,
sustainable and competitive water and sewerage services to support life,
social, economic development and environment in Moshi. Ms Msiru says there have
been several projects and new ones being planned so as to see to it there is
enough water to existing and new customers. Currently MUWSA is in a process of
getting 1.5bn/- to invest on a new water source. Ms Msiru says the water
source, known as Mang’ana, is located at Uru North Ward in Moshi Rural
District, saying they have taken the initiative as getting enough water for
Moshi and nearby areas’ residents as soon as possible is in the authority’s
cards.

A street in Moshi town in Northern Tanzania

She notes that MUWSA is in the process of getting the funds from
different sources, unveiling that among them is getting a loan facility from
financial institutions so as to make the project a success. Once the project is
completed, the source will produce 6,912 cubic litres per day and would partly
serve people in the ward that is in highland area of Moshi. She said the local
government leaders from the ward wrote a letter to Moshi Rural District
Council, asking for the authority to put in place needed infrastructure for
production and supply of clean water. The project comes on board after the
citizens requested The Minister of Water, Eng Gerson Lwenge to consider them
getting water supply from the source. The engineer was in Moshi for
inauguration of Kisimeni Water Source at Uru South Ward in February this year.
The water source serves about 30,000 people in Longuo and Kariwa areas in Moshi
Municipality. There had been efforts under Moshi District Council to put
facilities for production and supply of water from the Mang’ana source since
1989 but proved futile, so that residents continued to fetch water from far-off
areas and buy from sellers who supply with gallons. While for sometimes MUWSA
was focused to supply water to the municipal residents, now have gone steps
further by serving residents in outskirts of the municipality. Those are in
Shabaha, Sanya Line B, Kariwa and Longuo. As of last week, 1,287 clients had
been connected to the water service. MUWSA seem to match President John
Magufuli’s speed, as in another water source - Kisimeni, they took only 80
days, as per their promise, to complete water project and now it is operational
since February 2016. It is situated at Uru South Ward, Moshi Rural District. That
is a success story as now more than 30,000 people are enjoying the service.
They no longer have to go far-off areas to fetch water or buy at a huge price
from youth who supply with wheelbarrow. Minister Lwenge says that the
government would fulfill its promises of making water available to the majority
of Tanzanians. He says it is government’s responsibility to ensure that people
get social services while the public is accountable to safeguard the projects. He
assures the public that his ministry is committed to have 85 per cent of rural
areas connected to water services and 95 per cent in urban areas by 2020. By
2025, he says, all areas in the country will have access to potable water. He
praises MUWSA leadership for its diligence, saying he did not expect that the
water scheme would be completed within 80 days of the president’s 100 days in
office. “This is an era in which people should work hard in production
activities and do away with politics as the general election is over,” he says.
He criticizes politicians who incite water users connected to MUWSA facilities
not to settle their monthly bills on the pretext that water is a God-given
gift. He says much as the government would like to provide the precious liquid
free of charge, it is difficult because there are operational costs involved
otherwise the projects would collapse. From early 1960s the Moshi urban
population was getting water from Nsere and Shiri springs. Currently MUWSA
water services cover about 85 percent of the population, a jump from 60 percent
in the 1980s. The average composition of the coverage, customers based, is 66
percent domestic, 17 percent institutional, 15 percent commercial and two
percent industrial markets. Water production stands at about 8.5 million cubic
meters a year. About 87 percent of the water comes from the springs of Mount
Kilimanjaro and flows by gravity. The remaining 13 percent is from a borehole.

MARA Region is set to get its first modern meat
factory after investors showed interest to establish a meat and beef processing
plant to tap into huge potential of meat industry in the Lake Zone region. The
Regional Commissioner, Dr Charles Mlingwa said in an interview that investors
who have shown interest to set up a modern meat factory in the region are
welcomed. “I have already met investors and discussed about establishment of
the meat factory,” he said noting with about two million heads of cattle,
tourism hotels and mining companies, Mara Region had huge potential for beef
industry. Singita Grumeti Reserves which is made up of two lodges and a tent
camp and Seronera Wildlife Lodge at the vast Serengeti National Park are some a
number of hotel and lodges in the region and potential markets for processed
meat products. “Local market is huge. We have gold mines and many tourist
hotels which use imported meat,” Dr Mlingwa explained. Establishment of the
factory, he said will help boost incomes of livestock keepers as well as
creating job opportunities in the region. Mara region, he said has reminded
gateway for export of live cows to the neighbouring countries, a trend that
should come to an end. “Instead of exporting raw products we need to add value
and the chain value of a meat factory has a lot of benefits,” the RC said.

EXPERTS in diplomacy have described a move by three
heads of state of the East African Community (EAC) to give relief aid to
victims of Kagera earthquake as signal towards more cooperation and brilliant
future in the bloc. Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Uhuru Kenyatta of
Kenya and Paul Kagame of Rwanda handed over their contributions to President
John Magufuli on Saturday. Mr Museveni contributed a total of 200,000 US
dollars (437m/-) and Mr Kenyatta provided a relief items including roofing
sheets, blankets and mattresses worth 115m/-. The tremor, which occurred on
September 10 and measuring at a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale, killed
17 and left 440 others injured. The quake also destroyed 2,063 houses while
14,081 others were damaged. In separate interviews with the local media on
Sunday last week, the experts on diplomatic issues and a member of the East
African Legislative Assembly (EALA) called for continued such spirit among the
members of the EAC of helping each other during hard times. They argued that
the situation showed the real meaning of the Community. A Lecturer at the
Centre for Foreign Relations (CFR), Dr Kitojo Wetengere, noted that being in
the community means that the members need to support each other economically
and socially. “When one member country faces trouble, others should provide
help.

Tanzania's President John Maghufuli

For these presidents to support Tanzania, it means that we are together
during good and hard times. They have proved that our pain is theirs,” Dr
Wetengere remarked. He said it was healthy for the EAC because by doing so; the
three presidents have underscored more collaboration and unity among member
states. “They have given us the real meaning and sense of the community. It’s
my first time to hear this happening and I hope that such gestures would
continue,” he said. Another expert in diplomacy at the CFR, Dr Bernard Achiula,
remarked that what the three EA heads of state have done was crucial for the
brighter future of the EAC. Dr Achiula even went far arguing that the relief
aid from the three presidents could also explain how Dr Magufuli, as the new
chairman of the EAC, has been able to win support from other member states and
manage to unite them within a short period after he took over the chair. He
further said that Tanzania has been in the frontline in helping other countries
during times of trouble and, therefore, such a gesture has proved to other
countries in the Community that a friend in need is a friend indeed. “I think
helping each other in the Community before asking for support from western
countries shows how the EAC is now matured,” he noted. A Member of the EALA, Mr
Makongoro Nyerere, said the presidents’ move underlined the solidarity among
member states. “Their response was unique since they made a quick response
after seeing that their fellow EAC member has got problems,” he added. He
proposed that the EAC should in future need to have a law that would guide them
in collaboratively respond to disasters. He said the law would improve the
current low capacity among the EA countries in responding and managing the
disasters, which have caused deaths, injuries and loss of properties in the
region.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.